I'm new to this community but found myself in the exact same situation! Filed for SS retirement in December 2024, still processing, and just got my Medicare Part B bill for the first quarter. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The overwhelming consensus is clear: pay the Medicare premium to protect your coverage. I was initially hesitant because I didn't want to pay twice, but hearing from multiple people who got automatic reimbursements once their SS benefits started has convinced me this is the right approach. What really stands out to me is how common these processing delays seem to be, especially when part-time work is involved. I also had some consulting income last year that I reported, and now I understand that's likely why my application is taking longer than expected. I'm going to pay my Medicare bill today and set up automatic payments like others suggested. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences - it makes navigating this bureaucratic process so much less stressful when you know the system actually works, even if it's slow!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! My SS retirement application was delayed for almost 10 weeks due to earnings verification, and I had to pay Medicare Part B premiums out of pocket during that time. Here's what I learned: definitely pay your Medicare bill right away! I was hesitant at first because I didn't want to pay twice, but several people warned me about the risk of losing coverage. When my SS benefits finally started, I got automatically reimbursed for all the premiums I had paid directly - it showed up as an adjustment in my first Social Security payment with a clear explanation. The reimbursement process was completely automatic - no forms to fill out, no phone calls needed. The system tracked everything and sorted it out once my benefits began. Since you mentioned part-time work, that's probably what's slowing your application down. Mine was delayed because they had to verify some old contract work I had reported. I'd recommend setting up automatic payments on medicare.gov so you don't have to worry about remembering to pay each month while waiting. Keep your payment confirmations just in case, but the reimbursement system works really well. Hang in there - the processing is slow but it does get resolved!

I went through this when my husband died leaving me with 3 kids. SSA processes everything together - they handle the family maximum calculations. At your appointment they'll tell you exactly what each person will receive. For planning purposes, each child is eligible for about 75% of your husband's benefit and you'd get 75% as the caretaker of minor children, but the family maximum will reduce these amounts. In my case, we each got about 60% of what we would have gotten without the maximum.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult time. As someone new to understanding Social Security survivor benefits, I wanted to add that it might also be helpful to know that if you remarry before age 60, you would lose your widow's benefits. However, if you remarry after age 60, you can still collect widow's benefits. Also, when your youngest turns 16 and your benefits stop, you'll have what's called a "gap period" until you turn 60 (when you can start receiving reduced widow's benefits) or until your full retirement age for unreduced benefits. During this gap, only your children would continue receiving benefits until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school). It's a lot to process, but planning ahead like you're doing is really smart.

As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but just created an account to respond to this thread - WOW, what an education! Emma, you are SO lucky to have found this advice before making your decision. Reading through all these personal stories of people losing $85-$137+ per month FOREVER because they filed just a few months early is honestly shocking. I had no idea the reduction was permanent and affected everything going forward, including COLA increases. The consensus here is crystal clear: wait until November! Ten months might feel long when you're thinking about it, but it's nothing compared to potentially 20+ years of reduced benefits. Plus you're still working part-time so you have income coming in. One thing that really stood out to me from all the responses is how many people said they wish someone had explained this to them before they filed. The SSA really should do a better job making this clear - the difference between "turning 66" and "reaching your exact FRA" seems to trip up a lot of people. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, even the painful ones. This thread should be required reading for anyone approaching retirement age!

Wow, this thread has been absolutely incredible to read! As someone who's new to understanding Social Security benefits, I had no idea how significant that reduction could be for filing even just a few months before your exact FRA. Emma, after reading all these personal experiences from community members who lost $85-$137+ per month permanently, the answer seems crystal clear - wait until November! The fact that you're still working part-time and earning income means you have the luxury of waiting those 10 months without financial hardship. What really opened my eyes was learning that the reduction is truly permanent and affects everything going forward, including COLA increases since they're calculated as a percentage of your already-reduced base amount. That 5.6% reduction compounded over 20+ years of retirement could easily cost you $25,000-$30,000+ in total benefits. Plus, as some members mentioned, your current $24K annual earnings might actually be replacing some lower-earning years from earlier in your career, potentially increasing your base benefit calculation while you wait. Those 10 months will pass quickly, but that higher monthly benefit will last for the rest of your life. Future you will definitely thank present you for making the patient choice here!

btw if you do go to the ssa office bring EVERYTHING with you - birth certificate, ss card, photo id, tax returns, everything!!! they always ask for something you dont have

One additional tip - you can actually apply online at ssa.gov which can be much more convenient than going to an office. The online application is available 24/7 and you can save your progress if you need to gather additional information. I applied online for my benefits and it was pretty straightforward. You'll still need to have your documents ready to reference while filling it out, but you won't have to physically bring copies unless they specifically request them later. Just make sure you have a my Social Security account set up first, as that makes the whole process smoother.

As a newcomer here, I wanted to add my voice to the chorus confirming that the SSA rep gave you completely wrong information! I'm actually going through a very similar situation right now - I'm 67 and lost my wife last year. I successfully filed for survivor benefits 3 months ago using exactly the strategy you're planning. The key thing that worked for me was being incredibly explicit about what I wanted. I literally said "I am filing ONLY for survivor benefits today. I do NOT want to apply for my own retirement benefits. I understand these are two separate applications and I will file for my own retirement benefits at age 70." I also found it helpful to mention that I was aware of the 2015 law changes but understood those only affected spousal benefits, not survivor benefits. This seemed to signal to the agent that I had done my research. Don't let them discourage you - your strategy is absolutely correct and will save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime compared to taking both benefits now. Just be prepared to politely but firmly correct any misinformation they give you during the call!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my perspective since I just helped my sister navigate this exact situation last month. The SSA representative you spoke with is definitely wrong - restricted applications for survivor benefits absolutely still exist and are completely legal. My sister is 65 and was widowed two years ago. She had the same plan as you: take survivor benefits now and switch to her own larger benefit at 70. When she first called SSA, the initial rep told her the same thing - that "restricted applications don't exist anymore." This is a common misconception among frontline staff who confuse the 2015 changes to spousal benefits with survivor benefits. Here's what worked for her: She called back and specifically said "I need to file a restricted application for widow's benefits only. I am NOT filing for my own retirement benefits at this time." When the second rep seemed uncertain, she asked to speak with a technical expert who immediately understood what she needed. The key is being very direct about what you want and not backing down if they seem confused. Your strategy is not only legal but financially smart - don't let misinformed staff derail your plan! Document everything during your call and get the agent's name and extension. If needed, don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor. You've got this! Stay confident in your research because you're absolutely right.